At Vision Baptist Missions, we are continually reminded that missions is not merely about reaching new places. It is also about preparing people, strengthening families, investing in future leaders, and faithfully sending laborers into the harvest.

This season has brought several encouraging reminders that God is still calling and preparing people to take the gospel around the world.

Welcoming the Patton Family

We are excited to welcome Zachariah Patton and his family as the newest missionaries with Vision Baptist Missions.

Originally from Conover, North Carolina, Zachariah was discipled and sent out of North Laurel Baptist Church in Valdese, North Carolina. He moved to attend the Vision School of Missions in the fall of 2022 and graduated in 2025 after completing a six-month internship in Taiwan.

During his time at the school, Zachariah met his wife, Lydia Patton, who graduated from the Vision School of Missions in 2024. They were married in November 2024 and are expecting their first child in November.

God used their time in Taiwan to work in their hearts and confirm His direction for their lives. The Pattons are now beginning deputation with the goal of returning to Taiwan as missionaries.

We are grateful for their willingness to follow the Lord and excited to see how He will use their family to advance the gospel.

Golf Tournament!

Stephen Cofield has been a tremendous help in the past, and once again, has joined to help us plan for our 5th annual Golf Tournament. We will be spreading the word, looking for golfers, and contacting sponsors. Our goal with the proceeds will go towards professionally remodeling the gym to be an official basketball and volleyball court. It will be used for local Christian schools, churches, and VBM/VSM use. We are excited about what God is doing! 

Our future is as bright as the promises of God! 

Click here to register or find out more.

Students Preparing for a Life of Ministry

The work of missionary preparation continues on the campus of the Vision School of Missions. Students are receiving practical instruction, participating in missions classes, learning directly from experienced missionaries, and preparing for future internships and ministry opportunities.

The school has additional module courses scheduled to address subjects such as social action in missions, deputation, and language learning. These focused training opportunities allow students to learn skills that will help them navigate the practical realities of missionary life and ministry.

We are also celebrating with Connor and Ruby, two students who recently became engaged. We are thankful for their testimony and excited to see how God will lead them as they prepare for a future together.

Another Intern Headed to the Mission Field

Missionary training becomes especially meaningful when students have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in another culture.

Grant Snode is preparing to leave for an internship in Burkina Faso. Before his departure, ministry leaders met with him to discuss goals, expectations, and responsibilities for his time overseas. This preparation is designed to help interns approach their service with purpose, accountability, and a desire to grow.

An internship is more than an overseas experience. It gives a future missionary the opportunity to observe ministry, serve alongside experienced laborers, learn from a different culture, and better understand the realities of life on the mission field.

Please pray for Grant as he travels, adjusts to a new environment, and seeks to serve faithfully.

The Chandler Family Prepares for Brazil

The Chandler family is also preparing to begin a new chapter of missionary service in Brazil.

As part of their preparations, the family packed and shipped 29 totes containing items for their life and ministry overseas. Soon they will say goodbye to friends, family members, and familiar surroundings as they leave for the field where God has called them.

These transitions are exciting, but they can also be bittersweet. Missionary departures remind us that answering God’s call often requires sacrifice, faith, and a willingness to leave behind what is comfortable.

Please pray for the Chandler family as they travel to Brazil, settle into their new home, and begin serving the people God has placed before them.

Praying for a Future Church Property in Chile

God is also opening doors for continued ministry in Chile.

A group from Immanuel Baptist Church in Michigan recently visited Chile and gathered outside a property being purchased for Peace Baptist Church. Together, they prayed for the church, the property, and the ministry that may take place there in the future.

A church property is much more than a building. It can become a place where the gospel is preached, believers are discipled, families are strengthened, and future leaders are trained.

We are thankful for those who prayed on-site, and we invite others to pray that God will provide, guide, and use this property for His glory.

Youth for the Gospels

As you will see below, there is one upcoming Y4tG events.

If you want to attend or need more information, click here.

Sharing Missionary Stories Through Podcasts

Three new podcast conversations have also been recorded with visiting ministry guests.

The upcoming episodes feature David Peach, a missionary serving the deaf; Blaine Hooper and Holly Hooper, who are nearing the end of deputation; and Braxstone Yansom, who was saved through Matt Allen’s ministry and is preparing with his wife to serve as a missionary in Papua New Guinea.

Each testimony offers a different perspective on missionary preparation, calling, deputation, and service. By sharing these conversations, we hope others will be encouraged to consider how God may use their own lives in the work of missions.

Vision Baptist Missions - YouTube

Moving Forward Together

These stories represent different stages of one shared mission.

Some are just beginning their training. Others are preparing for internships. Some are raising support, packing their belongings, or stepping onto the mission field. Churches and ministry partners are praying, giving, teaching, mentoring, and helping prepare the way.

Every role matters.

We are grateful for each person who invests in missionaries and future missionaries through prayer, encouragement, financial support, training, and faithful service. Together, we have the privilege of helping send the gospel to people around the world.

Please continue to pray:

• For the Patton family as they begin deputation and prepare to serve in Taiwan
• For Grant Snode as he begins his internship in Burkina Faso
• For the Chandler family as they leave for Brazil
• For Peace Baptist Church and its future property in Chile
• For the students of the Vision School of Missions as they prepare for ministry
• For more laborers who will surrender their lives to take the gospel around the world

God is still preparing, calling, and sending. We are thankful to have a part in what He is doing.